Vols hand ‘Canes another loss

Miami  Brock Berlin slowly walked through the Orange Bowl with his girlfriend on one side, his parents on the other and two security guards close by.

He needed consolation -- and maybe protection.

Berlin threw two interceptions and fumbled once as No. 18 Tennessee stunned sixth-ranked Miami, 10-6, Saturday, knocking the Hurricanes out of the national-championship picture for the first time in four years and ending the nation's longest home winning streak at 26 games.

The Volunteers (7-2) became the first visiting team to celebrate a victory at the Orange Bowl since Penn State did it Sept. 18, 1999. Tennessee won with just 170 yards of offense, 81 passing and 89 rushing.

"It was probably the prettiest, ugliest win I've ever had," said coach Phillip Fulmer, who posed for pictures with his family in the Orange Bowl after the game.

The biggest play came when Fulmer gambled on fourth-and-goal from the two in the second quarter. Derrick Tinsley scored on an end-around to give Tennessee a 10-3 lead.

The Hurricanes (7-2) failed to score a touchdown at home for the first time since 1984. It also was the first time since a 47-0 drubbing at Florida State in 1997 that Miami failed to scored a touchdown in any game. The Hurricanes had 12 penalties for 121 yards, including a key one that helped Tennessee score its only touchdown.

Clemson 26,

No. 3 Florida St. 10

Tennessee linebackers Jon Poe, left, and Robert Peace celebrate a
10-6 victory over Miami. The Volunteers beat the Hurricanes
Saturday in Miami.

Clemson, S.C. -- Charlie Whitehurst threw for one TD and ran for another, and Clemson likely ended Florida State's national-title hopes with its first victory ever over a top-three team. The Tigers (6-4, 4-3 ACC) snapped an 11-game losing streak to the third-ranked Seminoles. Aaron Hunt added four field goals, and the Tigers held the Seminoles (8-2, 6-1) to their fewest points of the season and just 11 yards rushing.

Pitt quarterback Rod Rutherford, who was 24-for-31 for 303 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score, directed the winning drive that kept the Panthers (7-2, 4-0) as the only unbeaten team in Big East play.

Virginia Tech (7-2, 3-2) failed to follow up on last week's 31-7 rout of previously unbeaten Miami and dropped out of contention for the national championship.

Jeff Smoker passed for 351 yards for the Spartans (7-3, 4-2), but 265 yards came in the opening half. Smoker was 35-of-55 for two touchdowns with two interceptions.

No. 16 Purdue 27,

No. 10 Iowa 14

West Lafayette, Ind. -- Jerod Void ran for a career-high 120 yards and two TDs for Purdue.

Purdue (8-2) is 5-1 in Big Ten play for the first time since 1979 and moved into a three-way tie for first with Michigan and Ohio State. Iowa (7-3, 3-3) had its worst regular-season defeat since a 28-point loss to Ohio State Oct. 21, 2000.

Void, who had a career-high 34 carries, produced nearly as many rushing touchdowns in one day as the Hawkeyes had allowed all season (three).

No. 12 Washington St. 31, UCLA 13

Pullman, Wash. -- Jonathan Smith ran for three touchdowns as Washington State (8-2, 5-1 Pac-10) broke a three-way tie for first in the Pac-10 by beating the Bruins (6-4, 4-2).

No. 17 Florida 35, Vanderbilt 17

Gainesville, Fla. -- Ciatrick Fason scored twice, Keiwan Ratliff returned an interception for a score, and Florida kept its surprising Southeastern Conference title hopes alive. Florida (7-3, 5-2) won its fourth straight game and moved alone into first place in the SEC East. Vanderbilt (1-9, 0-6) lost its 23rd straight SEC game.

No. 20 Mississippi 24, Auburn 20

Auburn, Ala. -- Brandon Jacobs had a one-yard touchdown run with 2:39 left, and Ben Obomanu dropped a pass in the end zone on Auburn's final drive. It took a brilliant 80-yard drive by Eli Manning and some luck for Ole Miss (8-2) to pull off its second victory over the Tigers (6-4, 4-2) in their last 11 meetings.